Method of providing conductive tracks on a printed circuit and apparatus for use in carrying out the method

Abstract

This invention is a method of providing conductive tracks on a printed circuit including coating a substrate carrying printed tracks with an electro-plating solution with a tool which provides a first electrode of an electro-plating circuit and a second electrode provided by the tracks which are to be electroplated, and a tool suitable for use in electro-plating electrically conductive regions of a substrate, the tool including an absorptive member in which plating solution can be carried; a first electrode of an electro-plating circuit adapted to make electrical contact with plating solution carried by the absorptive member; and at least one tool second electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode and spaced from the absorptive member, the tool second electrode being so positioned that as the absorptive member is wiped across a surface of a substrate, the second electrode contactor can be wiped across the surface of the substrate to contact electrically conductive regions of the substrate to form a second electrode of the electro-plating circuit therewith.

1. A cool for use in electro-plating electrically conductive regions of a substrate comprising:
 an absorptive member in which plating solution can be carried;  
 a first electrode of an electro-plating circuit adapted to make electrical contact with plating solution carried by the absorptive member; and  
 at first one tool second electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode and spaced from the absorptive member, the tool second electrode being positioned such that as the absorptive member is wiped across a surface of a substrate, the second electrode contactor can be wiped across the said surface or the substrate to contact electrically conductive regions of the substrate to form a second electrode of the electro-plating circuit therewith.  
 
   
   
     2. A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the absorptive member is a brush. 
   
   
     3. A tool according to  claim 2  further comprising means to feed a supply of plating solution to the absorptive member. 
   
   
     4. A tool according to  claim 2  comprising two electrically connected tool second electrodes mounted such that as the absorptive member is wiped across the surface of a substrate one of the tool second electrodes leads the absorptive member and the other tool second electrode, trails the absorptive member. 
   
   
     5. A tool according to  claim 2  wherein the or each tool second electrode is provided by a flexible electrically conductive blade. 
   
   
     6. A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the absorptive member comprises a flexible foam material having interconnecting pores.